In the days since they brought back the defeated Lizardmen, everything is calm around Lasse and his friends.
　The demons went to work in town, while the dragons and Kraken went about their business as usual.
　Only Lasse was a little different.
　He had been summoned by Trow of the Adventurer's Guild and had come to the guild leader's office.
　There was Trow, the guild master, Letty, a traveling knight, and the town mayor.

"So, the reason the Lizardmen came back is because of the demon?

　Lasse had been asked why the lizardmen who had gone to reclaim their homeland had come back covered in wounds.
　Because the only people who knew the details were the Lasse demons who carried them.

That's right. The Lizardmen's homeland, the swamp of Jujiki, was overrun by a demon, possibly a cat incarnate, an apostle of Bael.

　Lasse tells Trow what the Seasurpent's report says.

"So, the demon won't attack this town?　No, just like the previous demons: ......

　The mayor is asking for help.
　Following the demons that appeared during the previous demon sweeping operation in the Great Demon Forest, he was completely frightened to hear that another demon had appeared.
　Usually, demons are beings without a sense of reality, like those in myths and fairy tales, like those you see in stories about disciplining children who have trouble sleeping.
　The successive appearances of such beings made the mayor anxious for the devil to come back to attack the town.

I don't think that's too much to worry about. It's already been nearly a month since the demon appeared in Jujiki's swamp, but by the time the lizardman returned to the swamp to fight back, the demon was still there. I don't know why, but I guess that means there's no will to move there.

　Letty's words understood the situation correctly.
　Technically, everyone but the mayor understood.

"But hey, just because it hasn't worked in the past, doesn't mean it won't work in the future!

(The mayor's words are certainly true. When you don't know your opponent's intentions, it's dangerous to make careless judgments.

　Trow rightly appreciates his friend's words. But as one who stands above men, we can't risk inflaming people's fears by playing tricks on them.

"I don't think there's any danger of the demons coming to our town at the moment. And Lasse's dragons are here in town. And even if the demons do show up, the danger is far less than in other towns.

　It was fortuitous for Trow that Lasse and the dragons were there, and for Dexi's town.
　If it weren't for Lasse and the others, the previous mission to defeat the demons in the Great Demon Forest would have been a disaster due to the demon invasion or, worse, the town would have been destroyed.

''That's right!　Let's rush the dragon carriage back to town!　Put it on the town guard!

　The mayor screams with excitement as he remembers the dragon.
　I'm sure he now sees the dragon as his savior.

That's a bad idea. The dragon carriage is the town's selling point. Traders at home and abroad will hang us if the dragon carriage is out of service.

"Oh, well, that's annoying. ......

　The mayor ponders what to do.

It's a good thing that you don't have to use dragons. Even if this demon attacks, I'll still send the demon and myself to defend ourselves, so that the town's inhabitants have time to evacuate.

　Lasse explains to the mayors that he has contacted Mitic, the priest who once sealed the demon.
　However, he refrains from giving them detailed information about Mitic himself.
　He fears that Mitic's safety would be threatened by the leak.

"Oh!　It's only fitting that such a person has a handlers for such a person to use a dragon!

(((I don't think dragons have anything to do with it, though)))

　Except for the mayor, all three of us are united in our thoughts.

Anyway, I think we need to keep an eye on Jujiki's swamp. Lasse, since the town of Dexter asked you to keep an eye on the demon that used a flying demon to conquer Jujiki's swamp. The Mayor will pay you.

　Trow throws the blame to the mayor without hesitation.

Why do I have to pay for it?

　The mayor, as expected, protests.

I don't think we're in direct danger, but you're worried about it, aren't you?　If you don't like it, I'll withdraw the request.

　The emphasis is on the "ha" part and the mayor is shaking. Maybe he's angry.

"Okay, okay, ...... I'll make the request on my own account. But since it's about the town's defense, I'll have to take it out of the town's operating funds!

Be my guest. That's the Mayor's power.

Hmm, I'm the mayor, I just made the right investment of money to protect the town!

　But the truth is that the mayor was well used by Trow.
　Trow made the mayor pay him without hurting the guild's pocketbook.
　The money the mayor used to pay was the town's tax fund, a small tax collected from the residents every year for emergencies.
　In fact, when push came to shove, it was a difficult matter to determine, and Trow let the mayor make the decision of the devil's watch, a matter of ambiguous criteria, at his sole discretion.

I understand. I'll send my demons, who are good at watching, to watch the demon.

"Yeah, I got it.

"It's a pleasure to work with you.

　◇

So, what are the demons going to do?

　On the way back from the meeting, Letty asks Lasse a question.

"I'll leave it to the Order. Have you already reported to the Order?

"Of course it's true, there's a demon in the country. I've called the church's exorcism squad. I wrote that Lasse-Tamer would kill the demon again, so I'm going to have to hurry.



"I don't want you to be the kind of person who puts up a fight with a church like that.

　Lasse breathes a sigh.
　Because the church is an organization that preaches God's teachings and protects people's peace, it is hostile to demons that are contrary to God's teachings.
　That's why they have a department to exterminate existing demons, but recently they have been in no position to do so, since several demons were defeated by Lasse, who was working in the army.
　In that sense, there are some people here who are happy to see Lasse quit the army.

"As far as I'm concerned a priest in the capital is just a waste of time and money. The nobles even said that since Lasse took the initiative in defeating the demon, the priests have less power to speak out and that's just fine.

"I was so useful, and now I'm fired?

　I can't help but be amazed at the unexpected recognition I didn't know I was receiving.

The new Commander of the Knights of the Order ...... seems to be connected with the Church, so the reason why he was fired may be because of the Church. So the reason why Lasse was fired may have been connected to the Church.

"Seriously?

The name of his former boss comes up unexpectedly and a distressed Lasse .

"Well, it's none of Lasse's business now.

Well. . well.

Come on, come on, put the trouble on the church!　We'll even think about dinner today!

"I see that too.

　Letty pulls on Lasse's arm as she comes to her senses.

"Let's go have a cockatrice omelet today!

"Yeah, yeah. You like it too.

"Of course!　Because unlike an ordinary omelet, the richness of the yolk is totally different!　Hurry up before they sell out!

Don't pull it.

　For a moment, work is forgotten and Lasse and his friends return to their daily lives. 　
　But he hadn't yet noticed that the turmoil was always coming closer to Lasse.